2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Chocolate, a delicious treat, can serve as a powerful educational tool for teaching engineering, scientific, and sustainability principles. Chocolate and chocolate making versatility in the classroom provides students with a tangible, sensory-rich medium through which complex concepts become more approachable. Many chemical engineering concepts can be abstract and difficult for students to grasp. Activities such as tempering and sensory analysis provide hands-on learning experiences with minimal safety concerns, making them ideal for engaging a wide range of students in active learning. Beyond technical concepts, chocolate provides a platform to explore ethical and environmental considerations such as labor practices, ethical sourcing and sustainable production.

At [University], chocolate making is being used to illustrate core chemical engineering principles like heat transfer and crystalline structure to a wide audience. These activities not only reinforce theoretical knowledge but also make engineering more accessible to a broader audience including non-STEM majors and early-stage students.

This study explores the effectiveness of using chocolate as a medium to improve understanding of fundamental engineering and scientific concepts. A mixed-methods assessment approach will be used to evaluate learning outcomes and student engagement through pre- and post- surveys as well as analysis of student assignments. This research aims to see how utilizing a medium like chocolate influences a student’s motivation and interest in the STEM field.